Though it’s a global brand and multi-billion dollar industry, Formula 1 is going through something of a ‘moment’ in the public eye right now, thanks to the Netflix show ‘Drive to Survive’.
The show’s fourth season, which follows the ups and downs of 2021’s racing year, became one of Netflix’s top 10 TV shows in 50 countries within a week of its release, and anticipation for Season 5 has reached fever pitch.
As the Guardian reports; “The show’s success has had knock-on effects for Formula One itself. In 2021, the sport’s cumulative TV audience was up 4% from the previous year, reaching 1.55 billion”.
Moreover, “a record number of people – more than 108 million – tuned in to watch the 2021 season finale” and interest in actual sales of Formula One tickets has risen, too.
If you’re one of Formula 1’s newfound fans keen to experience the buzz of a live event in the flesh, here’s our roundup of the most glamorous destinations to see the Formula 1 in action this year.
Miami – Ideal For Celebrity Spotting
Last year, Miami was arguably the pinnacle of all the buzz that Drive to Survive has created, earning itself the reputation as being F1’s Superbowl. 2022 was quite the spectacle; a star studded event with Formula One’s paddock teeming with celebrities including David Beckham, Mila Kunis, Pharrell Williams, and Venus and Serena Williams.
When? Round 5 of the F1 2023 Season takes place between the 5th and 7th of May.
Where to Stay: If you’re attending, we have to assume you’ve got deep enough pockets to cover a luxury stay. You’ll want to stay in South Beach to be close to all the action, and here there’s no shortage of 5 star resorts, from the Palms Hotel and Spa to the Ritz-Carlton.
What Not To Miss: Miami is known as being one of the greatest party cities in the USA. Scrap that, it’s one of the most legendary party cities in the world. Even saying the word Miami out loud, with its rhythmic bounce rolling off the tongue, seems to evoke a little sashay in those close enough to be listening. As such, a Miami Grand Prix party, as high-octane as the sport itself, is a must.
What to Eat: Miami’s restaurant scene is ridiculously good, bringing its own personality to America’s palate and plate with Cuban, Caribbean and African influences abound. It’s certainly true that you can get a better understanding of the cultural influences and history of Florida and Miami through its food. Some of our favourite spots in town include Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop whose Cubano is rated by many as Miami’s best and Cafe La Trova, for a fuller complement of the classic Cuban canon and some carefully crafted cocktails.
Emilia Romagna – Ideal For Iconic Cars
Discover an intriguing corner of Northern Italy that’s home not only to Ferrari and Lamborghini, but also to some of the world’s best restaurants, both in terms of fine dining and family-style full-table generosity.
The race itself is held at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, though in Emilia Romagna it’s often simply referred to as “Imola” after the town where it is located.
When? Round 6 of the F1 2023 Season takes place between the 19th and 21st of May.
Where To Stay: There aren’t that many places to stay in Imola itself. Your best bet is to stay in nearby Bologna, which has so much going for it as a city. For ease of transport, stay near the central train station in Centro Storico, the historic city centre.
What Not To Miss: You’re here for the cars right? Well, as mentioned, Emilia Romagna is home to several luxury car manufacturers including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Pagani, and Ducati. As such, there are several museums devoted to these famous automobiles in the regions ‘motor valley’ including Modena’s Museo Enzo Ferrari where you can see some of the most iconic iterations of the car, and the nearby Lamborghini museum in Sant’Agata.
What To Eat: You don’t need to go far to eat well here. The region is famous for its renowned, world-class produce; think balsamic vinegar, Parmigiano Reggiano and prosciutto di Parma. Moreover, some of your most loved Italian dishes hail from here; bolognese, lasagna….the list goes on. What’s more, a previous winner of the world’s best restaurant, Osteria Francescana, is just 30 miles away. What’s stopping you?
Monaco – Ideal For Getting Up Close & Personal To The Action
Arguably the most famous and prestigious event in the racing calendar, Monaco should be on every F1 obsessive’s bucketlist. Though the excitement levels are always at fever pitch at this iconic track, Monaco is actually said to be the slowest (and most difficult) circuit in the F1 world.
The Grand Prix and its A-lister posse descend on Monaco every May; as such, it’s best to book accommodation and the rest well in advance (yep, we realise the next event is just three months away) if you’re going to catch a glimpse of the cars.
When? Round 7 of the F1 2023 Season takes place between the 26th and 28th of May.
What Not To Miss: Located on the French Riviera and with France bordering the country on three sides, Monaco has a total area of only 2.2 square kilometres, making it approximately the same size as New York’s Central Park. This means that travellers can easily explore every nook and cranny of the tiny country in no time. A visit to Casino Monte Carlo is obligatory if you’re visiting Monaco, though be aware that you can’t visit the Casino or port raceday.
If the ride gets too much and you need a breather, the Jardin Exotique, standing tall over the Med, boasts gorgeous views below.
Where To Stay: Since Monaco is wonderfully compact, focus on finding the best hotel deal rather than prioritising a particular area you’ll stay. Keep in mind that Monaco is on the French Riviera, as such many chose to base themselves in Nice instead due to its significantly more affordable accommodation options. You can easily travel to and from the track each day as the vicinity has excellent transport.
What To Eat: We can’t talk about the restaurant scene in Monaco without mentioning their Michelin starred fine dining establishments, which take the idea of ‘blow out’ and light a fuse under it. Le Louis XV, with world renowned chef Alain Ducasse at the helm, is one of the most revered kitchens on the planet, with prices to match. If you have the budget, do dine here; it’s considered one of the most prestigious dining experiences out there. With starters clocking in at around €70, you’ll certainly pay for that prestige.
For something more local and considerably more wallet friendly, you can’t leave the city without trying Barbajuan, the national dish of Monaco, at a local cafe. This is a crispy and unctuous deep-fried dish filled with swiss-chard and ricotta, and is utterly irresistible.
Another must-try street food is socca; a crepe-like pancake made from chickpeas that originates from neighbouring Nice and is found all along the French Riviera. Try it at Chez Roger, a little stall in the covered Condamine market which is arguably Monaco’s favourite fast-food institution. Here they also sell pissaladière; a caramelised onion and anchovy tart which is as good as it sounds.
Singapore – Ideal For Catching The Action For Free
Launched in 2008 as the first street race in Asia, the Marina Bay Circuit race runs along Singapore’s harbour and boasts the city’s famous skyline as its spectacular backdrop. Though 2021’s event was cancelled due to the pandemic, the 2022’s was a spectacular event, and 2023 promises even bigger things.
If you don’t manage to get tickets for the Grand Prix, fear not; there are some great spots where you can watch the action for free including the National Gallery’s open-air rooftop, Esplanade’s open-air rooftop and The Gallerie food court at Marina Square.
When? Round 16 of the F1 2023 Season takes place between the 15th and 17th of May.
What Not To Miss: The afterparties over this high-octane race weekend in Singapore are something else – be sure to go to at least one. Otherwise, a trip up Sands SkyPark observation deck, taking in the spectacle of the Digital Light Canvas and experiencing the Spectra light and water show should definitely be high on your itinerary. The fine dining restaurants in and around Marina Bay represent the height of gastronomy to those with the money to enjoy them.
Where To Stay: If you want to be close to the track, you can be! Most of the city’s best hotels, including Mandarin Oriental, Ritz Carlton Millennia, Pan Pacific and of course the Marina Bay Sands, are located around the circuit These rooms don’t come cheap – especially on race weekends. For better value, look further away from the Marina and city centre, and be sure to stay in a hotel that’s close to an MRT so you’ll be able to easily get to the circuit
What To Eat: For us, the street food in Singapore is where it’s at. The cuisine is a glorious amalgamation of the many historic, ethnic and cultural influences of the place; Malaysian, Chinese, Portuguese…they all play a part.
When dining out, locals often eat at the ubiquitous Hawker Centres which are found all over town. Perhaps the best is Lau Pa Sat (also known as Telok Ayer Market also known as satay street) where you’ll find a huge diversity of dishes and styles. Singapore also lays claim to the world’s cheapest Michelin star meal at Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle.
For a unique fine dining experience, Candlenut is the first restaurant in the world to be awarded a Michelin star for its Peranankan cuisine.
Abu Dhabi – Ideal For The Spectator Forward Experience
Though the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which takes place in the Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island, is widely accepted as being the most expensive racing event in the world to attend, it’s also the one with arguably the best views of the track going. It’s also F1’s only twilight race, which adds a real sense of magic and mystery to proceedings, with the soft sunset and twinkling lights of the big city bathing the cars in a gold hue seemingly in keeping with the reputation of the place (and race).
When? The final round (Round 23) of the F1 2023 Season takes place between the 24th and 26th of November.
Where To Stay: Many of the most luxurious hotel chains are based on Yas Island itself. Should you be backed by a billionaire, most of the F1 drivers, team and entourage stay in the 5-star Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi hotel, which is just a short stroll to the paddock.
What Not To Miss: Though Abu Dhabi is perhaps most famous for its shopping malls and skyscrapers, it’s the expansive, extravagant Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque that’s unmissable here. With a magnificent Persian carpet and several crystal chandeliers as its centrepiece, over 40’000 worshippers pray here regularly.
What To Eat: For a thorough look at the wonderful cuisine of the region, allow us to direct you to our guide on some of the best dishes to try when travelling the UAE. Have a wonderful trip!
